Iglulik (Feb 14/05) - In Iglulik, you can't turn a corner without hearing Inuktitut.

Inuktitut is everywhere in Iglulik. It's knitted on little Donna-Jean Angilirq's hat and written on signs by the coffee pot brewing at Isuma Productions.

It is this "use it or lose it" approach to Inuktitut that has given Iglulik its Nunavut-wide reputation as a cultural centre.

That is why the commissioner of Nunavut, Peter Irniq, and the department of culture, language, elders and youth found it appropriate to hold Language Week events in Iglulik last week.

The government launched various language material for students including an Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun activity book called "Uqausirmut quviasuqatigiingnirmut" during the celebrations. They also combined it with a presentation of commissioner's awards for bravery and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ).

Language Week events were held all over Nunavut from Feb. 5-12. But outside the classrooms and community hall events, young Inuit - like Rita Sula Qumangat, a young woman in Iglulik - struggle daily to keep their culture.

Qumangat was apprehensive about talking to an English-speaking journalist, but she warmed up when the topic turned to Inuktitut being under threat.

For Qumangat, Inuktitut is all about self respect. When she talks about it, she beats her hand on her chest close to her heart.

"It is challenging keeping Inuktitut strong," she said. It is not the prevalence of English television or radio that has Qumangat worried - it is her own way of using the language that she feels is the biggest hurdle.

"When I speak," she continued, using her hands close to her mouth like words are actions, "I mix English and Inuktitut words. I want my language to be strong in Inuktitut. But it is tough."

Her friend Louisa Kunnuk agreed.

"If I don't use any English when I speak, just Inuktitut all the way, that is the best," said Kunnuk.

Accommodating people

During the commissioner's awards on Feb. 7, Peter Irniq followed all his Inuktitut speeches with some English. When asked why, he explained that he looked around the room of more than 200 people and saw two non-Inuit.

"You will find Inuit very accommodating to those that cannot understand," said Irniq afterwards.

Elijah Evaluarjuk, owner of the Tujurmivik Hotel in Iglulik, was happy that Language Week events brought so many visitors to Iglulik.

Evaluarjuk's adopted son, James, is four years old now and only understands Inuktitut.

Evaluarjuk wondered aloud whether Inuit were being too accommodating when it comes to the language these days.

"You can call up NTI (Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.) or one of those (organizations) and they answer you all in English," he said.

Sitting in his hotel living room, Evaluarjuk remembered how Iglulik rejected the introduction of television into their community until the mid-1980s, mainly because of the concerns about cultural erosion.

"We held plebiscites and everybody kept saying, 'Not until there is Inuktitut programming.'"

While Inuktitut radio plays constantly in the hotel, the large television is showing Star TV. Evaluarjuk looks over at it and waves his hand. He knows the battle for Inuktitut is not over.

"Kids today, they watch up to six hours of TV a day, eh? It's scary."Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun

in Nunavut:

* 72 per cent of Nunavummiut speak Inuktitut as their first language

* 85 per cent of Inuit living in Nunavut report Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun as the language spoken at home

* 55 per cent of 15- to 24-year-olds in Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay report a good ability to speak Inuinnaqtun. Specific numbers for Inuktitut-speaking youth was not available

* 17 per cent of Inuit report Inuktitut as the language they use most often at work

* The Government of Nunavut has committed to establishing Inuktitut as its working language by 2020.

- Information courtesy of the department

of culture, language, elders and youth